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Monday, August 30, 2010

Spencer Nelsen of the Bellevue area Boy Scout Troop 1173, recently completed a landscaping project on Saturday, August 28th. The project will be used to complete the requirements to achieve his Eagle Scout.

The landscaping project was no small task. Mr. Nelsen secured in-kind, as well as, cash donations from area businesses for supplies. In addition, Spencer was responsible for recruiting and leading volunteers to complete the work.

The Village of Bellevue would like to thank Spencer, Troop 1173, all the volunteers and local business that supported this project. It looks great!

The Partisan Primary Election for Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, United States Senator, Representative in Congress, State Senator, Representative to the Assembly, District Attorney, and County Partisan Offices will be held on September 14, 2010.

Voting will take place at the Bellevue Community Center/Fire Station at 1811 Allouez Avenue and the Village Hall/Public Safety Building at 3100 Egan Lane. Polls are open at 7:00 a.m. and will close at 8:00 p.m.

If you are unable to vote at the polls, absentee ballots are available at the Village Office.

For more information on elections, or to download a copy of the ballot visit the Village’s website at www.VillageOfBellevue.org.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Starting September 1, 2010, the Village of Bellevue will be offering a convenient online utility bill and payment service option. Interested residents can register starting on August 30th by simply logging onto the village's website and clicking on the Online Utility Payments icon on the right of the home page.

Village residents can continue to choose from several utility billing and payment options. However, using electronic options helps reduce utility costs and is strongly encouraged.

Utility Billing can be performed two ways:

Mail - Traditionally by default, utility customers will receive a standard bill via the united states postal service.

e-Mail - In lieu of a traditional mailed bill, customers are encourages to register for e-billing services. Customers who sign up for e-billing receive a utility bill notification via email and are forwarded a link to view their bill online.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

The Village Board of Trustees meeting on August 25, 2010 features the following agenda items:

Public Hearing - 2011-2015 Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. The proposed CORP update will guide the acquisition, preservation, and development of land for parks, recreation trails, and other open spaces in the Village. The plan addresses both short-term and long-term recommendations.

New Business - Review of Projects to be included in the 2011-2015 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The Village Board will review and discuss proposed capital projects and purchases over the next five years.

New Business - Creation of an Economic Development Advisory Board. The Board will review the concept for the creation of an advisory committee to provide recommendations on economic development issues.

The meeting will be held at the Public Safety Building / Village Hall at 3100 Eaton Road. For more information or to download a copy of the meeting notice or agenda visit the Village's website at www.villageofbellevue.org.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

The most northernly section of Ontario Road within the Village, approximately 1350 feet north of Eaton Road to Village Limits, will be closed starting Monday, August 16, 2010 for reconstruction. The road section is scheduled to be urbanized, which includes curb and gutter.

The Road will be closed to through traffic. Project completion is slated for fall 2010.

The Leisure Services Department recently hosted its 7th annual Senior Summer Picnic at Josten Park on August 8th. Over 100 area older adults participated in the event.

The social event featured food from Biebel's Catering, games, casual conversation and entertainment by Jim Scovell & The Heart Attack Band. The Event was sponsored by Bellevue Independent & Assisted Living.

The Village's Plan Commission will review and possibly recommend an update to the Village's Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan or CORP at their August 17, 2010 meeting.

The recommendations presented in the Plan will help guide the acquisition, preservation, and development of land for parks, recreation trails, and other open spaces in the Village of Bellevue to meet the needs of a growing and changing population. Such recommendations will also serve to protect and enhance the community’s natural resource base into the future. Although, this Plan addresses the long-range park and open space needs of the community (through the year 2030), it focuses more specifically on recommendations for development over the next five-years.

The Plan is also intended to incorporate, refine, and update the previous findings and recommendations presented in the Village’s 2006-2010 Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. This Plan was prepared in accordance with guidelines that will make it certifiable by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The Plan must be updated every five years to ensure that it reflects the current needs of the community and retains its DNR certification. This Plan was also prepared as a detailed component of the Village’s “Smart Growth” Comprehensive Plan under Wisconsin Statutes

The Village's Park Commission recommended at their August 2010 meeting to approve the proposed draft update.

The Village Board will review the proposed update at their August 25, 2010 meeting. A formal public hearing will be held prior to Village Board action.

For more information on the CORP update or to download a copy of the draft plan, visit the Village's website at: www.VillageOfBellevue.org.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Research conducted by the US Forest Service has led to the ability to justifiably determine the value of street and landscape trees. The National Arbor Day Foundation has also made it easy for anyone to determine the dollar value of the economic and environmental benefits provided by any tree in your yard.

At this new site, simply enter your zip code. This makes sure that the subsequent calculations are geared to climate factors in our area. Next, you find your tree on a drop down list of 70 species or genera. If your tree is not on the list, there are 'other' categories based on tree characteristics from which to select. You then add the diameter of your tree and kind of property (residential, commercial, industrial, etc.) and the calculator will do the rest.

The results show the overall annual contribution of your tree - in dollars! There is also a pie chart breaking this amount into various services provided - storm water retention, energy savings, air quality improvement, CO2 sequestration and property value enhancement. Tabs take you to any of these values for further explanation.

Village staff recently tested the calculator with a 5 inch Norway Maple located at the Village Offices at 2828 Allouez Avenue. According to the calculator, the tree provides an annual benefit of $30. And while some functional benefits of trees are well documented, others are difficult to quantify (e.g., human social and communal health). The pictured graph shows a breakdown of the value the sample tree provides (click on picture to enlarge).

Some other key measures from the example include:

This 5 inch Norway maple will intercept 210 gallons of storm water runoff this year.

This 5 inch Norway maple will raise the property value by $10 this year.

This 5 inch Norway maple will conserve 46 Kilowatt / hours of electricity for cooling and reduce consumption of oil or natural gas by 7 therm(s).

It should be noted however, that benefits of trees do not account for the costs associated with trees' long-term care and maintenance. However, the good news - tree benefits outweigh maintenance costs at least 3 to 1. It should also be noted that well-cared trees appreciate in value overtime. If our sample tree is cared for and grows to 10 inches, it will provide $77 in annual benefits.

The Leisure Services Department Urban Forestry Division is responsible for the planting and maintenance of all trees within the street right-of-way, in village parks, and all other village owned properties.

Trees located in the Village's right-of-way are property of the Village and permission is required before residents, prune, remove or otherwise perform any maintenance.